Can Drogba sign off in style?

Despite his advancing years, Didier Drogba has remained one of the best powerhouse strikers in world football who will be forever idolised by Chelsea fans. Winning the 2012 Champions League Final with his last kick for the club was the perfect ending to a wonderful eight year spell at Stamford Bridge, with the Chelsea legend now plying his trade in Turkey with Galatasaray. Flourishing at this summer’s World Cup in Brazil would be a fitting ending to Drogba’s international career with the Ivory Coast, with the tournament set to be the final hurrah for one of the country’s best every players. The Ivorians are ranked amongst the dark horses to defy the odds and go all the way to the Final, with Drogba set to play a leading role for his country in attack. Backing Drogba to be top scorer at the World Cup would be a good bet to make, with excellent odds of 100/1 on offer for a striker who is more than capable of scoring enough goals to be in the running for the Golden Boot.


Group C

Any nation who has high aspirations of taking everyone by surprise and forming a major challenge for the World Cup must hit the ground running in the Group stages. There is essentially no easy game in the world of football, although the draw can throw up some intriguing groups which are packed with the best teams in the world, or contain four teams who are essentially on a level-playing field with one another and could all qualify. Ivory Coast will certainly feel that they received the latter, with being drawn in Group C alongside Colombia, Greece and Japan providing an excellent opportunity for Drogba to fill his boots and lead from the front. All three will prove tough opposition for the Ivory Coast, with Colombia also ranked amongst the dark horses and have established themselves amongst in the top ten of the FIFA World Rankings. The games against Japan and Greece will be crucial to the Ivory Coast’s chances of going far in Brazil 2014, and they will provide Drogba with a wonderful opportunity to utilise his considerable strength and aerial ability to fire his country to glory.



Ivory Coast

Despite the presence of Didier Drogba – Ivory Coast’s all-time top scorer – and other top quality players, the country have never made it past the group stages in their history. Brazil 2014 will be the third consecutive World Cup appearance for the Ivory Coast which represents a huge achievement for the African nation. Sabri Lamouchi will take charge of the Ivory Coast during the World Cup, and has the luxury of being able to pick from the country’s greatest generation of players.

Drogba and Yaya Toure are undoubtedly the stand-out stars, with both players epitomising sheer power and a commanding presence that is vital to Ivory Coast’s chances in Brazil. Their attacking options are also very impressive, with Gervinho, Salomon Kalou and Wilfried Bony all hitting excellent form at the right time to stake their claim to line up alongside Drogba. Cheick Tiote and Romaric will provide the defensive shield that allows Yaya Toure to thrive in a more attacking role, with top prospect Serge Aurier set to shine in defence alongside the experienced heads of Kolo Toure and Didier Zokora. Every player will look towards Drogba as their instrumental captain who is their greatest hope of scoring goals which take Ivory Coast to glory and ends his international career in style.